Sports
Chelsea legends hail ‘superstar’ Estevao after outshining Lamine Yamal
Chelsea have a “superstar” on their hands in Estevao, who came of age in a “mature” display against Barcelona.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
That is according to Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola and former forward Daniel Sturridge, who described the young Brazilian’s performance on Tuesday as “tenacious” and “absolutely amazing.”
In a game which had been dubbed Estevao vs Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s own teenage prodigy, there was one clear winner at Stamford Bridge.
Estevao scored an outstanding individual goal as Chelsea brushed the 10-man Spanish giants aside with a 3-0 win.
Chelsea stormed out of the blocks and led through defender Jules Kounde’s own goal. Barca captain Ronald Araujo was given his marching orders before half-time, for two yellow cards.
Shortly after the break, Estevao doubled Chelsea’s advantage. The 18-year-old slipped inside Pau Cubarsi then glided across Alejandro Balde before rifling a rising, unstoppable finish high into the net.
“It was very good, very mature as well,” Zola said on Amazon Prime Sport. “He played like somebody much older than his age. What I like about him is when there is a possibility to try to do something difficult, he does it.
“There is a great quality and he can only improve. Today he scored a fantastic goal and every time I see him, I see something new in him. This is a great attitude for a player like him.”
Sturridge added: “The anticipation and expectation was that it was going to be Yamal’s night and it would be all about him. You see Estavao tonight and it was absolutely brilliant.
“He was tenacious, he was decisive in the moments he needed to be. Calmed the game down when he needed to calm it down. Very professional and experienced performance from him and it is just the beginning.
“Just the start of an amazing career we hope to see and we hope Chelsea have a superstar on their hands because he was absolutely amazing tonight.”
Marcus Rashford showed once again why Barcelona may want to keep him beyond this season, delivering a decisive performance in their crucial Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
With Barça struggling to break down a deep-defending opponent, Rashford stepped up and provided the spark Hansi Flick’s side desperately needed.
The Blaugrana dominated possession—as they often do—but lacked penetration in the final third. Rashford, introduced at half-time, immediately shifted the tempo.
His directness, urgency and willingness to try a different approach gave Barcelona a dimension they were missing, reports Barca Blaugranes
His moment of brilliance came with a perfect cross to Jules Kounde, a pass few in the squad could execute.
The power, accuracy and timing showed exactly why Rashford’s English background and style bring something different to the team.
Barcelona needed a new solution, and Rashford delivered it
From the left flank, Barcelona have struggled to find consistent end product this season, with Alejandro Balde offering energy but not always precision.
Rashford changed that instantly, taking risks and attacking the game rather than waiting for the ideal passing sequence. His influence also sparked Lamine Yamal, who soon created another aerial chance for Kounde.
Barcelona’s comeback keeps their Champions League top-eight hopes alive, with Slavia Prague and Copenhagen still to come. But Flick knows his side must be more pragmatic, not just dominant in possession.
Even with Raphinha returning, Rashford has proven he can be a match-winner off the bench. If he wants a long-term stay at Camp Nou, performances like this will strengthen his case.
On a night when Barcelona looked lost, Rashford became the difference maker.
Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal now holds another Champions League record after the club’s 2-1 victory over Frankfurt on Tuesday night.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Yamal’s assist for Jules Kounde means he now has more goal involvements in the tournament than any other player aged 18 or younger.
The Spaniard has now beaten Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe’s record.
Barcelona had to come from behind to get the three points against Frankfurt at the Spotify Nou Camp.
Ansgar Knauff put the Bundesliga side in front before the break.
But in the second half, two goals from Kounde sealed an important victory for the Catalans, with Marcus Rashford and Yamal bagging assists.
Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, has blamed a lack of control and fatigue for their 2-1 defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday night.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Maresca’s men took the lead through Joao Pedro, before the Serie A side fought back to take all three points.
Gianluca Scamacca’s header levelled the game, before Charles De Ketelaere smashed in the winner in the 83rd minute.
“After we conceded the first goal, we lost control a little bit of the game,” Maresca told TNT Sports.
“We are playing every two days, two days, two days. For a moment we looked like we struggled a bit.
“We were aggressive like them. We had different chances to make it 2-0 and when we conceded 1-1 the dynamic of the game changed a little bit.”
Chelsea now have 10 points from six games, two points behind eighth-placed Liverpool.
The Blues welcome Everton to Stamford Bridge next in the Premier League this weekend.
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